Wednesday, March 17, 2004

Contact: Bob Warick

Executive Director

University College of the Fraser Valley

Community Relations and Development

Phone: 604-864-4611

Email: warick@ucfv.ca

Canoeing Association’s film festival coming March 26

Local residents are being encouraged to take to the water by attending the Water Walker Film Festival at the University College of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford campus on Friday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m.

This is the third year the film festival, in honour of Canadian film maker Bill Mason, is taking place at UCFV. Organizer Nicole Bellay compares the one-day event to the world-renowned Banff Film festival.

“The films that we’ll be showing are films that are made around the world,” Bellay explains. “It’s kind of neat, because people won’t be able to see these films anywhere else.”

The Water Walker Film Festival is all about enjoying the great outdoors and preserving nature at its best. The event is a tribute to the late Canadian Bill Mason – a conversationalist, canoeist, painter, author and filmmaker. Ann Baxter, from Paddling Canada, says the Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association, with the support of Mason’s family, organized the first Water Walker festival shortly after his death. The film festival is now known throughout North America for its innovative and beautiful films.

“The CRCA hopes to sustain Bill Mason’s vision by raising support and public awareness of waterways and wilderness preservation through the celebration of these films,” Baxter says. “It is our hope you will be encouraged and motivated and get involved with the protection of our wilderness and waterways and play a role in carrying out Bill Mason’s legacy.”

Topics of the films range in a number of subjects such as canoeing, kayaking, water safety, the environment, and the conservation and protection of natural resources.

UCFV is helping to sponsor the event, which takes place March 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Abbotsford campus in room B101. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door and available at Western Canoeing and Kayaking, Valhalla Pure, and Wenting Cycle.

“This is a great event because not only does it encourage young filmmakers, it’s also all about water conservation,” Bellay adds. “And to me, that is very important.”

For more information on the Water Walker festival, follow the link on UCFV’s homepage at www.ucfv.ca

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